Published on Aug, 2024
This was my last day in Victoria. My boat trip back to Seattle was in the evening (6pm check-in; 7pm departure). The Clipper boat ride to Seattle at night was a similar experience as to my morning boat trip to Victoria a few days earlier. The check-in and wait is similar to airline travel. Customs was so easy (at least for me), I thought there would be another checkpoint after we arrived in the US (Seattle), but there wasn’t. I wish they had A/C in the waiting room. I was very glad to have a hand fan that I bought in Chinatown. I had a window seat with empty aisle seat. It was beautiful to travel during sunset. Photos were a challenge because of wet windows (spray from the waves) and reflections of interior lights. I wish they turned off the lights a few times – like when we approached Seattle and saw the city and the Great Wheel all lit up. During the trip, we saw orcas heading in the opposite direction. They were on the move, so we only saw a little of their fins/backs as they swam by. Our boat slowed down for safety and to let us see. I was lucky it was on my side of the boat. There was no customs process after arrival – we lined-up to get off the boat and then were done. One note: the taxi stand was full of taxis, but they would only take people who were headed to the airport, maybe to downtown hotels. They refused to give me a ride home (I’m a local who lives 15 minutes by car from the pier). I walked to a well-lit hotel next door and ordered a Lyft. :-)
